The Portland daily press., 1887-12-12
BOARD OF TRADE DINNER.
[coNTINuEp rRoM F1Rsr pAeE.l

CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.1
Hon. w. w. Thomas, Jr., was guest and
called him up, As Mr.. Thomas stepped for-
waN he was very warmly greeted.
MR.. THoMAss SPEECH.
NJ, President, and Gentlemen Of The Board Of
will notice that the extreme northeastern portion
of our country projects upward into Canada like
the horn on the snout Of rhinoceros. This rhln-
oceros horn, Which somewhat uncomforably cores
our nelghb0rs on the north, In the State OF Maine
and so, of course, in reference to the whole Uni
ted States, Maine Is away on and one slae ana ,
map of the United States we unroll the map OF
the whole continent of North America, we shall
o on he eoass Ia e You viii the
Atlantic seab0ard from Labrador to Florida. you
will see that Portland ~ very nearly the central
1t Tat makes New York the commercial metrop
oils Of the United States? A happy combination
causes of greatness is its central position. The
same thing may be said Of Boston In reference to
New England.
Canada are not natural physical ones, but simply
a political artificial boundary. Remove this
boundary from Canada 70 tne United i, states, ana
and you lay the foundation for an increase in the
population, wealth and greatness OF our state and
city. such as our most sanguine citizens never
dreamt of, such as none of us dare now predict,
unless he wished TO be thought mailman.
0fcourse we may never acquire Canada. for
one hope we never shall unless it can be done
peacefully But it seems to me that every citizen
Of Portland and Of Maine. should be in favor Of
ever such a union can be brought about honora-
bly, and with good will on both sides.
Mr.. Blabon then said we had an ex-Collec-
tor with us and called up Hon. F. N. Dow.
COL. Dow's SPEECH.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Board Of
Trade:
was waited on some hours since by your com
proposition-that should attend this meeting
this evening" pay dollar and half for my ticket
and and make speech: proposed an amendment asI
omit the speech, and think the fact that your
committee did not accept the proposition reflects
But seriously sir regret that / should have
been asked to say anything this evening upon this
p S % So aes as and % have
only that general interest which every citizen of
Portland who was born here has respecting the
growth and prosperity of the city. Now, sir,
thought that you touched the key note of some of
the obstacles of the success of Portland in your
advantages of the city of Portland they are great,
but like those advantages to boy who was born
with gold spoon in his mouth, they may some
times prove serious disadvantage. We have
dwelt too much on the natural advantages OF the
city of Portland, while other places with less nat
asd 10 d
outstripped us. We ali know how it is. A Port
land baby, as soon as he Is born, certainly as soon
" taken up on the Eastern Promenade and while
lying there with his bottle, II Portland baby is
ever brought up on bottle, he is Obliged to listen
to the wonderful story of that scenery in the Med
iterranean which everybody is said to go and see
because it looks like the view from the bank
above fish point; then he is taken up on the West
ern Promenade, and as his eye catches the glitter
OF the setting sun on the iron OF the OgdensDurg.
stretching out to that pathway made by the Al
mil ilf p To, oil flQ nj
reach the natural seaport, he wonders that they
have not come. Now, it seems to me that in this
gSara Of ns u + q b s1 WSo bsse
come here in our midst to add to these natural ad-
vantages some Of their own energy foresight and
which must Inevitably result in great advantage
to the city. Now, sir, haven't any knowledge
upon this particular subject ana everything trat
of sufficient value TO base any action on. or to be
taken in the line OF advice, but does seem TO me
that the remarks of General Anderson contain
matters which present to us a very practicable
thing if 1t is true, as he suggests that floating els
evators pay 20 per cent, lido not think there is
the slightest doubt, poor as we are, that we
should have any difficulty in proviJing elevators
to take care of all the traffic of the Grand Trunk
and the Portland & Ogdensburg. 1t seems to me
trust that this Board of Trade, which is SO well
adapted to originate look into ana carry out sucn
an enterprise will take this matter seriously into
consideration and am sure that every citizen OF
Portland. who has any pride OF citizenship IN MN
VIII be glad TO do all that he can 70 aid any well
considered and wise enterprise looking toward
the growth and prosperity OF the city
Col John Nj. Adams, of the Argus, was
next called upon. He spoke briefly, as fol-
lows:
COL. ADAMs's SPEECH.
Mr. President.
understood that this was meeting of mer-
chants, and l came here to listen and to learn,
not to speak, because / am not prepared to make
a suggestion upon question which have stud
led little and know very little about have been
highly delighted with the speeches W hich have
heard and the suggestions made. 1t seems to me
that the meeting cannot but derive great adyant-
age from the discussion of subjects of this charac
ter and hope that il will produce action that
will make inquiries and bring out some plans and
suggestions for carryinasthem out. Inc ldea OF
floating elevators, 1t seems to me. is very plausi-
BILE one, and do not see why 1t is not perfectly
practicable and more advantageous than the sta,
tionary desire to hear that matter discussed
and hope that the Board of Trade will appoint a
committee to examine into that matter. l am
and Il seems to me When the plan has been fully
considered and recommended by committee
there will be no great hindrance 70 carrying II
out; 1 am sure that what the VIII OF the people OF
Portland wants done will be done; they VIII be
perfectly competent to accomplish anything, and
m ia and see what Is to be done. am not in
pos ifion to give an opinion upon the subject pc
fGfe s az bay hat Of he
reasons that may have turned the steamers from
this port may have been the delay occasioned in
gettlnB tutiI cdIBOcS uuOducu.
Mr.. E. I'll. Elwell of the Transcript, was
the next speaker.
MIR. ELwELL's SPEECH.
Mr.. President and Members Of the Board Of
may say that it is pleasant to see the business
men Of Portland come together to protect the
welfare of the city; If good eating makes good
action we certainly ought to have good action
from this meeting tonight. My recollection goes
back to the time when It was, said that Portland
sprang into activity. This certainly is a day of
booms; we hear every day of towns in the, West
booming; it is done through the press, through
advertising; something of this has been done to
Portland by the railroads, but more has been done
through thh press. While at ole Of the hotels at
tae SHuh ssw bsness card 81 the hotels
In the White Mountains saw the gentleman at the
White Mountains when l went there next sum.
which had noticed at the hotel in the South; he
said that it was through that card that he came
that ne hd sad q heT with
my family of eight for all summer" Col. Dow
says that we have been talking OF the advantages
its advantages; think that we ought to have
summer hotel ON Munj0y Hill there is where we
can improve our ADVANTAGES In regard 70 Ine
Anderson, had practical Illustration OF the ad
yantages which the use of floating elevators would
give us. i went aboard the Partisan while here and
witnessed the attempt to move it to where there
was barely room enough; 1t was endeavoring TO
get at the elevator, and the captain SAID 70 me.
aThis ought not TO be- you ought TO have floating
elevators, SO that you need not be under the ne
cessity of moving ships about" That seems to
me practical illustration of Gen. Anderson's re-
marks
Mr.. John E. Dewitt was called upon and
replied as follows:
MIR. DEwITT's SPEECH.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen Of the Board Of
Trade:
did not come here to make a speech. Now, l
business here. We ought to put.our business into
the hands of competing corporations, and when
we do think 1t will be building up Portland. l
did not come here to make speech. Now ! am
like Mr.. Anderson little.